storydejour wrote:The more I think about it, the more disappointed I am in myself as I realize I was just getting tired and frustrated with my uncooperative computer. The "ending" of Part 1 was really intended as just a little break before doing part 2, so as a stand-alone tease it sucks, in spite of what a brilliant idea I thought it was in the beginning.
As for Part 2, I think you should enjoy it a lot more. I realize the ending is still a little abrupt, but I couldn't think of anything else to do. After all, I'm kinda limited to using the pictures I can find and I doubt I could contact Masuimi Max with a list of poses for her to do for me.
On the other hand, it doesn't hurt to try, does it?
So anyway, I acknowledge part 1 sucked at the end, but do you have any suggestions for how part 2's ending could have been done better?
An author being critical of his own work? Gee....now that never happens.
Seriously, I haven't read part two just yet, but my first suggestion based on your own comments is to slow down. If you're not happy with what you've written, then change it. Rewrite it, edit it, whatever you want. It's your work. However, since none of us are being paid for this, there's no dead line for publishing. You can take as much time as you want. So just slow down and make sure you've written what you wanted to.
As for the pictures part....yeah, that's frustrating sometimes. It'd certainly make things much easier if we could call these ladies up and have them pose where and how we need them to. However, since that's not going to happen we only have two choices.
1. Find pictures we like THEN write a story to match them or....
2. Write a story and spend a LOT of time searching for picture that "fit."
Both have their advantages and disavantages. I know, in my own case, The Bermuda series is using the second approach and it's significantly slowed things down because I have trouble finding the "right" pictures to fit the story. At some point, maybe you just need to change the story because you can't find the right stuff. It's happened more than once for me and I'm sure it'll happen again, but that's part of the fun.
As for "endings"....If you can't think of something...again....slow down. Take a break and come back to it later. Let your brain "chew on it" for a day or two, whatever. You might be suprised what you come up with if you give it time to simmer.
Just some advice, based on the way I do things. It may work for you, it may not. Ultimately, you sort of have to find your own way of writing and what works best for you, but try out different approaches in the mean time. Keep doing what works and change what doesn't. Most of all....keep writing, keep reading, keep listening to feedback. It'll all help you refine your approach and your style.
